Feeder chute construction



Oct. 6, 1964 1. MEDOFF ETAL FEEDER CHUTE CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed July 6, 1961 INVENTORS. 5 ram/6 M'flaAF ca /$245: eoMmA me BY Oct.6, 1964 LMEDOFF ETAL 3,151,586 FEEDER CHUTE CONSTRUCTION Filed July 6.1961- 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 My Array/04s Oct. 6, 1964 1. MEDOFF ETAL3,151,586

FEEDER CHUTE CONSTRUCTION Filed July 6, 1961 INVEN TORS Lew/m; 4/ 0 Oct.6, 1964 1. MEDOFF ETAL FEEDER CHUTE CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FiledJuly 6, 1961 INVEN TORS'. .zemva M'M meat: ddAKI/G Wlf BY fig,

S mlbnrrakA/a s United States Patent 0 3,151,586 FEEDER CHUTECONSTRUCTION Irving Medcif, Flushing, and Charles Bonsignore, QueensVillage, N.Y., assiguors to Emsig Manufacturing Co., New York, N.Y., apartnership Filed July 6, 1961, Ser. No. 122,161 3 Claims. ((31. 112113)This invention relates to a button feed device and more particularly toa shank button feed device for use in conjunction with a button sewingmachine whereby buttons from a bulk supply in a button hopper areoriented in sewing position beneath the needle of a button sewingmachine.

More particularly, this invention relates to an improved button feeddevice of the general type shown in Troll Patents Nos. 2,597,912,2,661,709 and 2,830,549. In button feeders, including feeders inaccordance with the aforesaid patents, buttons contained in a hopper aremechanically aligned in a chute which leads from the hopper to a presserfoot mounted to lie beneath the sewing machine needle. In such knownfeeders, a button in the button chute is positioned by any of a numberof known means at a predetermined point on the presser foot, when thelatter is raised to the work releasing position. The operator .then mayposition work beneath the sewing machine needle, cause the presser footto be lowered, and initiate a sewing cycle whereby the shank button isstitched at a desired point to the garment. In such previously knowndevices, raising and lowering of the presser foot results in a bodilymoving or shifting of the button hopper and the button chute whichconnects the presser foot to the hopper. Enlargement of the hopper toincrease the capacity makes the hopper rather a heavy assembly, and theraising and lowering of the presser foot results in considerablestresses being applied both to the chute which links the presser footwith the hopper, and to the presser foot lifting apparatus which isforced to raise the additional weight of the hopper and where foottreadle operation is involved causes fatigue to the operator.

Accordingly, in one phase thereof, this invention re- 7 lates to a novelbutton feeder device having novel linkage means between the presser footand hopper whereby the hopper load is eliminated on the presser footaction and is permitted to remain stationary upon raising or lowering ofthe presser foot, and, accordingly, the presser foot may be raised andlowered without the necessity of lifting the weight of the hopper.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a buttonfeeder attachment on a button sewing machine or the like, whereby apresser foot is connected to receive buttons discharged from astationarily mounted hopper.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a feeder attachmentof the type described whereby the presser foot may be raised or loweredwithout lifting the weight of the hopper.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a feeder of thetype described having an articulated chute member forming a buttonraceway joining the presser foot and the button hopper, which chutewill, upon raising or lowering of the presser foot, permit said presserfoot to remove relatively to a fixed hopper without interrupting thesmooth flow of buttons in said raceway.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a button feederattachment including a button guide chute having relatively movablelinkage parts to provide for relative movement of a presser foot securedat one end of said chute, and a fixed button hopper at the other end ofsaid chute.

A further object is to provide novel, adjustable work 3,151,586 PatentedOct. 6, 1964 "ice clamping means in combination with a feeder device asaforesaid which clamping means permits ready adjustment of the presserfoot to accommodate fabrics of varying thickness.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a novel presserfoot for a button feeding device or the like, having novel buttonclamping means.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a button feederdevice having a presser foot which includes novel button clamping meanspermitting ready positioning beneath the sewing machine needle ofbuttons of a wide variety of button head shapes.

In order more fully to describe the invention and illustrate its use,reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front perspective view of a button sewing device to whichhas been attached a feeder in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded, pre-assembly view of the flexible linkagebetween the upper and lower chute segments of said feeder assembly;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the presser foot, chute and hopperassembly in the lowered or sewing position of the presser foot isolatedfrom the sewing machine for clarity of inspection;

FIGURE 3A is a view, similar to FIG. 3, showing the position of theparts in the raised position of the presser foot;

FIGURE 4 is a magnified section, taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a section taken on the line 55 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a magnified side elevational view taken in the direction ofthe arrows 6-6 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 7 is a partial section taken on the line 7--7 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a section taken on the lines 8-8 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 9 is a view similar to FIGURE 6 in the raised position of thepresser foot;

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary perspective, exploded view of portions of thepresser foot assembly showing the novel spring clamping means; and

FIGURES 11 and 12 are horizontal sections showing the position ofbuttons held in the spring clamp means of FIGURE 10, which buttons havevariously shaped heads and head depths.

In accordance with the invention, there is shown in FIGURE 1, aconventional shank button sewing machine it), adapted upon actuation, toapply a series of button securing stitches to a garment G clamped to thework piece 11 of the machine. Suitable shank button sewing machines aregenerally of two types. In the first type, the sewing machine needleoscillates alternately in two paths, one of which paths serves to directthe needle through the sewing hole of the button, and the other of whichdirects the needle adjacent the shank. In the second type button sewingmachine, the needle oscillates in a single path, but the Work piece isperiodically shifted so that on alternate needle strokes the needlepasses respectively through the sewing hole, and adjacent the shank. Theinvention herein described may be adapted in use with either type sewingmachine, the illustrated machine being of the oscillating needle,stationary work piece design.

The button feed apparatus functions to orient buttons beneath the needlein position to be sewn, and comprises a hopper H containing a bulksupply of buttons, a chute C for conducting in aligned condition buttonsdeposited therein by the hopper to the presser foot P. A pawl 12pivotally carried by presser foot P, functions after comsubstantialcanting of the buttons.

7 .60 of said chute.

pletion of a sewing cycle and upon raising of the presser foot to enterbehind a button in the presser foot and eject the sewn button while atthe same time advancing the button adjacent the sewn button intoposition to be sewn;

. standard is in turn secured by means of flange F to a horizontalsupport table;

By reason of the novel chute C, hereinafter described, which permitsrelative movement of the presser foot and hopper, no substantialmovement of the hopper occurs upon raising. and lowering of the presserfoot.

-' The hopper H functions under the influence of motor M to tumble thebulk supply of buttons therein contained,

and to feed a steady supply of edge-to-edge oriented buttons which areproperly positioned into the adjoining chute C which defines an internalraceway to guide the buttons to sewing position. The'construction ofhopper H'does, not form a part of this invention and may 'be of anyknown type which includes means for permitting properly positioned shankbuttons to pass chute C while excluding improperly positioned buttons,

The chute C at its upper, hopper adjoining end and substantiallythroughout its length, includes an extended rear button face engagingwall or strip 21, and extended button shank confining guide strips22,23. The guide strips 22, 23 are secured to wall 21 by bolts 24,spacers 25 being interposed between the guide strips 22, 23, and faceengaging wall 21, to permit sliding movement of the buttons within thechute C without permitting See FIGURE 4. The walls 22, 23 are spacedlaterally apart, defining there between a slot 26 through which thebutton shanks S project. v

The slot 26 is of a size to accommodate the noncircular shank portions Sof the buttons (see FIGURE '6) in a manner to prevent rotation of thebuttons in the chute and maintain the axis of the sewing holes of thebuttons, normal to the direction of travel of buttons inthe chute.

Buttons descend down the chute through the flexibly connected andtelescopically arranged center section 30 and lower section 60 to thepresser foot P,subsequently to be described in more detail. The presserfoot is lowered by chain Ch which may depend from thesewing machine liftbar, or may optionally be treadle operated or automatically actuated, asby solenoid or air pressure impetus in a manner known to those skilledin the art. Raising and lowering of the presser foot P is, of course,accompanied by relative movement of the upper hopper adjoining end 20 ofthe chute C and the lower section The center section 30,. see FIGURES 2and 4, comprises a bracket 32 secured at its upper end by bolts 33 torear wall 21 of the lower end 34 of upper chute section A slot 35 isformed in the lower end of bracket 32. -As best seen in FIGURES '2 and3A, the lower end 7 22a of. guide strip 22 is bent outwardly so as to beparal- *lel to, but further spaced from, wall 21, than the main body ofstrip 22.

The center articulated section 30 includes, backing link 7 41, the upperend of which lies in the plane of the lower end 34 of the upper chutesection 2 la. Guide strips ,the uppermost portion of link 41,the'u'pperend 23d 4 being bent outwardly to be parallel to, but furtherspaced from, wall 21, than strip 23.

The lower end 34 of wall or strip 21 is provided with a transverserecess 42 within which recess the upper end of spring blade member 43 isreceived. The lower ends of strips 22, 23 and spring blade 43 aresecured to the lower end 34 of wall 21 by bolts 24 passing throughregistering apertures in the elements 22, 23 and 43, respectively, andthreaded into complemental receiving apertures 44, 44 in wall 21. Spacermembers 25 interposed between strips 22, 23 and blade 43, respectively,space said strips from said blade, and at the same time seat the blade43 in recess 42 to form a smooth continuation of wall 21.

The blade spring member'43, in addition, includes a depending springfinger portion 45 which extends a distance beneath the lower end portion34 of wall 21 for purposes which will appear hereafter.

The center section '30, which optionally but preferably is curvedlongitudinally, is' shifably secured to the upper chute assembly bymeans of bolt which passes through slot 35 of bracket 32, and isthreaded into aperture 51 of link or plate 41. The bolt 50 is threadedand locked into aperture 51 in a manner to permit both sliding andpivotal movement of the parts 41 and bracket 32. When thus assembled (asbest seen in FIGURES 3 and 4), guide strip part 23a overlaps the end ofstrip 23 and part 22a overlaps strip 22b so that, despite relativeshifting of section 30 with respect to the upper section 21a of chute C,either strip 23 or. strip- 2212 will be in button guiding contact withbuttons progressing across the junction between section 30 and the uppersection 21a. As best seen in FIG. 4, the depending portion 45 of springmember 43 overlays the upper end 41a of link or plate 41 in thelowermost limiting position of bolt 50 in slot 35, to provide a smoothand substantially unbroken surface against which the buttons travellingdown the chute may ride. Also, the spring blade 43 tends to maintainwall 21 in alignment with link 41 despite the slightly loose fit of bolt50. in slot 35 which permits slight transverse articulation of section30 with respect to the upper end of the chute C. I

The lower end 41b of plate 41 is provided with a semicircular cutout41c. The lower terminal edges 22e, 23c of strips 22b, 231),respectively, are cut away'and taper upwardly from a low point adjacentthe slot '26 defined by the spaced strips.

This relative movement" is accomi standing the pivoted relationship ofDepending from the intermediate chute section 30 there is pivotallysupported the lowermost chute section 60, the terminal portion of whichcomprises the presser foot'P. The back 'plate 61 of chute section 60 isprovided with guide strips 22 23 which formcontinuations of the strips22, 23} Strips 221', 23 are secured in relation to space back plate 61by bolts 24 and spacers 25. The

upper ends 22g, 23g of said strips. are cut away and taper 22g and 23g,thus permit a range of relative pivotal movement of sections 30 and 60without interference, which would result if such terminal edgeswereright angular and close enough to each other to provide a continuousbutton guide. The ends aforesaid are arranged closely to approacheachother so that a button sliding across the junction between'sections30 and 60 will be maintained within the guideway or raceway formedwithin chute "C by the adjacent terminal endsiof the guide strips,notwithwith respect to each other. 7 1 a The plate 61 is provided withan upwardly extending semi-circular lug 61a, the outline of'whichcorrespondents substantially tothe cutout 410 formed in plate 41'. .A

1 bracket 65 is secured to plate 41 in a rrranner to project lug 66 adistance below the lowermost neer plate 41.

se'ctions 30 and 60 V ened in a manner to prevent binding of lugs 61aand 66. When assembled as above indicated, lug 61a will be partly withinbut not concentric with cutout 410, thus permitting a pivotal movement,the range of which is limited by abutment of the adjacent ends of plates41 and 61.

As previously indicated, the presser foot P comprises the terminal endof the lowermost chute section 60. As best seen in FIGURES 3, 6 and 9,guide strips 22 23] terminate in rigid finger portions 22h, 23h,respectively, and guide the shanks of buttons in this portion of thechute so that the sewing hole portions are vertically oriented in theterminal portion of the chute and project a distance therebeyond.

Whereas a certain degree of looseness of the buttons in the button chuteis not only permissible but necessary, it is important that buttons inthe sewing area of the chute adjacent the presser foot be prevented frommovement toward or away from the rear plate 61 of the chute. Theimportance of such button orientation is appreciated by bearing in mindthat the sewing machine needle oscillates a precise distance from theplane of fingers 22h, 23h, and varying positions of the button shanks atthis point could result in the needle striking a portion of the buttonshank rather than entering the sewing hole. Also, the buttons must beclamped during the sewing operation.

To secure such clamping action and precise orientation of the sewingholes of the buttons with respect to the needle path, the lower end 70(see FIGURE of plate 61 is recessed at 71, and a leaf spring 72 isfastened within recess 71 by bolt 73. toward the fingers 22h, 23k, andin the path of buttons travelling down the chute. It will be readilyunderstood that the feeder pawl 12 acts, upon raising of the presserfoot, to shift a button to a position adjacent spring 72 whereupon theunder face of the button surrounding the shank is forced against theinner surface of fingers 22h and 2312, and in predetermined projectedposition with respect to the needle. As seen from FIGURE 11, thealignment of the sewing hole of the button a fixed distance beyond theouter face of fingers 22h, 23h is accomplished without reference to theshape or size of the button head, since the distance between the sewinghole and the underside of the button head surrounding the junction ofthe button head and shank is the determinative factor. Thus, it will bereadily recognized that shank buttons having various sized heads may besewn without adjustment of the feeder so long as the distance betweensewing hole and the underside of the button head is a constant. InFIGURES 11 and 12 there are illustrated a plurality of buttons B B withdifferent sized and shaped head portions advanced to sewing position inthe presser foot. It will be appreciated that each shown button may besewn without adjustment, since the distance d between the sewing holeand underside of the head is the same.

As seen in FIGURES 6, 9 and 10, a lever 80 pivotally mounted on stubshaft 81 carried by the sewing machine, is secured to the presser footP. A bracket 82 extends upwardly from lever 80 and lift chain Ch is madefast to the bracket. The terminal end 83 of the lower chute section(comprising a continuation of plate 61) is secured to the forward end 84of lever 80. Thus, when the lever 89 is pivoted upwardly or downwardlyabout shaft 81 by the raising or lowering of chain Ch, the presser footP and lower chute section 60 are similarly raised and lowered. A stud 85is threadably and adjustably secured by lock nut 86 to flange 37 oflever 80. The stud 85 is provided at its lower end with foot portion 88.When the chain Ch is in lowered position, the Weight of the presser footP and allied assembly is supported by the stud 85, the foot portion 88thereof lying against the work piece 11 of the sewing machine. The stud85 may be adjusted upwardly and downwardly by variable threading of nut86, the adjustment being dependent upon the thickness of the garment towhich buttons are applied.

The spring 72 extends normally The operation of the device will bereadily understood from the preceding description. A continuous supplyof buttons is fed from the hopper into the chute C. These buttonsdescend the chute with the shank portions thereof extending outwardlythrough the slot 26.

A garment G is placed in proper position on the work piece and thepresser foot P lowered. The endmost button will have been oriented bythe pawl 12 at the previous raising of the presser foot. The loweredpresser foot clamps the garment, as shown in FIGURE 6, only a lightpressure being applied at the outer end of the presser foot, themajority of the weight being borne by the contact of stud against thework piece 11.

Upon completion of the stitching cycle, the presser foot is raised bychain Ch. The force required to lift the presser foot P is greatlyreduced by the fact that the presser foot P may be moved relative tohopper H. Thus it is not necessary upon lifting the presser foot to liftthe weight of the hopper.

As the presser foot raises from the position shown in FIGURE 6 to thatof FIGURE 9, the upward movement is accormnodated by a correspondingcombined telescoping and pivotal movement of the chute. (Compare FIGURE3, down position, and FIGURE 3A, up position.)

The telescopic movement is accommodated by the sliding of bolt 50 withinthe limits of slot 35, thereby permitting chute section 30 to movevertically relative to the other portions of the chute. By reason of thecurvature of chute sections 30 and 60, the upward sliding movement maybe accompanied by a flexing or transverse pivoting of chute section 30.The spring finger portion 45 will be biased by such lateral pivoting orflexing, and upon lowering of the presser foot parts will urge thesections to return to their normal position, as shown in FIGURE 4. Thegap between plate 21 and link 41 is at all times spanned by springfinger portion 45, so that the button heads may ride uninterruptedlydown the chute. In the course of telescopic movement flange portion 23arides over strip segment 23 and portion 22a over segment 2212. Thus atall relative posi tions of the two chute segments, at least one of thestrips 22b or 23b will function to maintain buttons against movementtransversely of the chute.

Raising and lowering of the presser foot will likewise cause a pivotingof plate 61 and bolt 50 in aperture 68. Thus, in the raised position ofthe presser foot (FIG- URE 3A), the chute sections 30 and 60 areangularly oriented rearwardly and in slightly flexed position, while inthe lowered position of the presser foot (FIGURE 3), the sections 30 and60 have been brought substantially into alignment. It will beappreciated that the relative movements aforesaid will enable the hopperH to be maintained stationary when the presser foot is raised andlowered. Thus, the force required to lift the presser foot is greatlyreduced, as compared to feeders heretofore known wherein the hopper wassecured to a semi-rigid chute and lifting of the presser foot requiredlifting of the hopper.

While there has been described and illustrated a semirigid chute inconnection with the feed of shank buttons, it will be readilyappreciated that those skilled in the art may adapt the teachings hereoffor use with other types of buttons, such as sew through buttons. Ineach instance it will be appreciated that by eliminating the neoessityof lifting the mass of the hopper from which the bulk supply of buttonsis fed, it will be possible to utilize hoppers having increased buttonholding capacity, thereby eliminating the necessity of frequentlyreloading the hopper. A presser foot assembly suitable for feeding sewthrough type buttons and suitable for adaptation to the semi-rigid chuteassembly herein described, is illustrated in Troll Patent No. 2,661,709.

The inclusion of an adjustable, depending support foot beneath thepresser foot reduces wear on the foot and 7 reduces the likelihood ofthe presser foot being thrown out of adjustment by hearing the entireweight of the chute and foot on the tip of the presser foot.

Also, the novel button positioning spring construction of the presserfoot assures proper adjustment of the button sewing hole laterally apredetermined distance beyond the side of the presser foot, regardlessof the shape and thickness, of the shank button, head.

Having thus described our invention and illustrated its use, what weclaim is new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In. combination with a button sewing apparatus having a'verticallymovable presser foot for clamping the work and a fixedly mounted buttonhopper adapted to orient buttons in peripheral edge-to-edge contactlocated at a level above the level of said presser foot, a chute forguiding the oriented buttons from said hopper to said presser, footwhile permitting relative movement be- (tween said presser foot andhopper, said chute comprising an, upper section depending from saidhopper and arranged to receive edge-to-edge contacting buttons from saidhopper, a lower chute section connected with said presser foot and sizedto maintain buttons therein in peripheral edge-to-edge contact, and.anintermediate section for guiding oriented buttons from said upperchute section to said lower chute section, said intermediate sectionhaving its lower end pivotally connected to the upper end of said lowerchute section and having its upper end pivotally and longitudinallyslidably connectedwith the lower end of said upper chute section, saidspring having an end .fixed to one of said chute sections and having afree end biased against the other of said chute sections,

said spring urging said upper and intermediate chute sections intoalignment.

2-. A device in" accordance with claim 1 wherein said upper sectionincludes a downwardly extending flange member spaced from andoverlapping portions of said intermediate section and said intermediatesection includes an upwardly directed flange member spaced from andoverlapping portions of said upper section;

3. In a feeder fora button sewing apparatus including a button hopperand a sewing machinehaving a vertically shiftable presser foot member,said hopper being at a level above said presser foot member, a chutelinking said hopper to said presser foot member while permittingrelative movement between said hopper and presser foot member,comprising an upper chute section depending from said hopper, a lower.chute section con-. nected with said presser foot member and anintermediate section for guiding buttons from said upper to said lowerchute section, said intermediatesection having one end pivotally andlongitudinally shiftably connected to an end of onesaid chute sectionand having its other end pivotally connected to said other chutesection, and blade spring means spanning'portions of both saidlongitudinally movable sections, said blade spring 'means being fixed toone of said longitudinally movable sections and overlapping'andyieldingly bearing against portions of the other of said longitudinallymovable sections in all longitudinally adjusted positions of saidsections, said blade spring permitting a relative pivoting movementbetween said longitudinally shiftable sections in a different plane thanthe pivotal movement permitted by said'first mentioned pivotalconnection between said sections.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A BUTTON SEWING APPARATUS HAVING A VERTICALLYMOVABLE PRESSURE FOOT FOR CLAMPING THE WORK AND A FIXEDLY MOUNTED BUTTONHOPPER ADAPTED TO ORIENT BUTTONS IN PERIPHERAL EDGE-TO-EDGE CONTACTLOCATED AT A LEVEL ABOVE THE LEVEL OF SAID PRESSER FOOT, A CHUTE FORGUIDING THE ORIENTED BUTTONS FROM SAID HOPPER TO SAID PRESSER FOOT WHILEPERMITTING RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID PRESSER FOOT AND HOPPER, SAIDCHUTE COMPRISING AN UPPER SECTION DEPENDING FROM SAID HOPPER ANDARRANGED TO RECEIVE EDGE-TO-EDGE CONTACTING BUTTONS FROM SAID HOPPER, ALOWER CHUTE SECTION CONNECTED WITH SAID PRESSER FOOT AND SIZED TOMAINTAIN BUTTONS THEREIN IN PERIPHERAL EDGE-TO-EDGE CONTACT, AND ANINTERMEDIATE SECTION FOR GUIDING ORIENTED BUTTONS FROM SAID UPPER CHUTESECTION TO SAID LOWER CHUTE SECTION, SAID INTERMEDIATE SECTION HAVINGITS LOWER END PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO THE UPPER END OF SAID LOWER CHUTESECTION AND HAVING ITS UPPER END PIVOTALLY AND LONGITUDINALLY SLIDABLYCONNECTED WITH THE LOWER END OF SAID UPPER CHUTE SECTION, SAID SPRINGHAVING AN END FIXED TO ONE OF SAID CHUTE SECTIONS AND HAVING A FREE ENDBIASED AGAINST THE OTHER OF SAID CHUTE SECTIONS, SAID SPRING URGING SAIDUPPER AND INTERMEDIATE CHUTE SECTIONS INTO ALIGNMENT.